Three-dimensional curing light

ABSTRACT

A curing light may include a housing sized and configured for placement over a tooth. A first facet positioned within the housing may have a first LED mounted thereon, a second facet positioned within the housing may have a second LED mounted thereon, and a third facet positioned within the housing may have a third LED mounted thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/776,695 titled THREE DIMENSIONAL CURINGLIGHT filed on May 10, 2010 which is a continuation application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/445,498 filed on Jun. 1, 2006 whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/686,261 filed on Jun. 1, 2005. The content of each of theaforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of curing lights and, moreparticularly, to the field of three-dimensional curing lights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although teeth have a 3-dimensional shape, prior art dental curinglights all emit light that can only be applied to one side of a tooth ata time. Exposing the entire tooth to light emitted by a curing lightuses up valuable dentist chair time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A 3-dimensional curing light is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example 3-dimensional curing light.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of an example 3-dimensional curinglight.

FIG. 3 depicts another cross-sectional view of an example 3-dimensionalcuring light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Three dimensional curing lights are disclosed that can emit light forpolymerizing monomers into polymers from 3 sides of a tooth at the sametime. This approach can also be used to enhance the properties of thecured dental composite, and to achieve a deeper cure.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a 3-dimensional curing light. Acontrol box 101 controls operation of the light. It includes a display102, control buttons 103, 104, and 105 for controlling power, curingmode, and light emitting selections respectively. An electrical cord 106is attached to the control box 101 to provide electrical power from anAC outlet. A cable 107 transfers electrical power from the control boxto a 3-dimensional curing light head 108. The 3D curing light head has 3facets, 109, 110, and 111. The 3 facets form a 3-dimensional channelInside the channel, the light is emitted from the inside of the facets.The light beams 112, 113, and 114 from each facet combine to cover the3-dimensional space occupied by a tooth. Thus any three dimensionalobject inside the channel can be cured at once. The light emitted fromthe 3 facets can be controlled to be emitted together or individuallydepending on the need.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of a 3-dimensional curing lighthead using LEDs as a light source. In the light head, there are 3facets, 201, 202, and 203. Each facet has a similar structure and theyare oriented at about 90 degrees to each other. The facets form achannel therebetween into which an object to be cured is placed. Eachfacet contains an LED light source 204. The LED light source can be asingle LED, multiple LEDs, LED arrays, and combinations of differentLEDs. The wavelength of the LEDs can range from less than 280 nm to morethan 5000 nm depending on application. The power of the LEDs can rangefrom less than 50 to more than 3000 mW/cm2. The LED light source isattached to a heat sink 205 using a fixture 206 with screw 207. There isheat conduction paste 208 located between LED 204 and heat sink 205 tofacilitate heat transfer. There is a heat insulation layer 209 withinthe head housing to create an air gap between the heat sink and theoutside casing so that the heat will not conducted to the outsidecasing. On the light-emitting side of the LEDs, there is a protectioncover 210 to cover the LEDs and protect them from damage andcontaminants The cover 210 can be a simple protection cover, or anoptical lens to shape or focus a light beam. The LED light source cancontain its own heat sink so that heat sink 205 serves as a secondaryheat sink for greater heat dissipation. Instead of an LED light source,a semiconductor laser or any other desired light source could be used.

FIG. 3 depicts the curing of a tooth filling using a 3-dimensionalcuring light. A light head 301 is on top of a tooth structure 302 with afilling 303 in the tooth. Three LEDs on 3 facets emit light beams 304,305, and 306 from three sides. This allows the 3 light beams to reachthe filling material from 3 directions to cure it into a durable dentalrestoration. Even though the light beams 305 and 306 need to penetratethe tooth structure to reach the filling material, the resulting dentalrestoration will be stronger and more durable than a restoration curedfrom one side only.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated inconjunction with a number of specific embodiments, those skilled in theart will appreciate that variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the principles of the invention as hereinillustrated, described, and claimed. The present invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit oressential characteristics. The described embodiments are to beconsidered in all respects as only illustrative, and not restrictive.All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency ofthe claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A curing light, comprising: a housing sized andconfigured for placement over a tooth; a first facet positioned withinthe housing having a first LED mounted thereon, said first facetconfigured to face a crown of the tooth when the housing is placed overthe tooth; a second facet positioned within the housing having a secondLED mounted thereon, said second facet configured to face a firstexposed side of the tooth when the housing is placed over the tooth; anda third facet positioned within the housing having a third LED mountedthereon, said third facet configured to face a second exposed side ofthe tooth when the housing is placed over the tooth, said second exposedside of the tooth being opposite of said first exposed side.
 2. Thecuring light head of claim 1, wherein each facet includes an outersurface and an inner surface spaced from said outer surface.
 3. Thecuring light head of claim 2, wherein each LED is positioned within aspace defined by said outer surface spaced from said inner surface. 4.The curing light head of claim 3, wherein each said LED is mounted on aheat sink.
 5. The curing light head of claim 4, wherein each said heatsink is spaced from said outer surface.
 6. The curing light head ofclaim 5, wherein an air gap is positioned between each said heat sinkand said outer surface.
 7. The curing light of claim 1, wherein saidsecond and third facets are oriented parallel to one another.
 8. Thecuring light of claim 1, wherein said first facet is oriented at about aninety degree angle with respect to at least one of the second and thirdfacets.